In the last century, change has been the only constant. How does an institution survive this? “Embrace change and strive for independent thinking,” explains Brenda Howden, Headmistress of Park Preparatory School.
This October,Auckland Park Preparatory School (APP), a private girls’ school in Johannesburg, will do what most institutions, schools and businesses strive for but rarely achieve – reach a century of success.
Why has the school not only survived a century but thrived? The answer may be in Howden’s perspective. On reaching a milestone, she does not rest on it as a guarantee for future success but looks to developing thinking that will be the bedrock of the next century.
“We thought long and hard about how we should celebrate our school’s heritage and its success over the past 100 years and what will support us in remaining a leading, relevant, forward-thinking, educational establishment for the next 100 years, “says Howden, “To celebrate our centenary year, we are applauding and encouraging innovation through establishing an annual Innovation Fair which aims to stimulate and inspire young minds to foster and develop innovative thinking approaches in all areas of life.”
The fair, backed by pioneering businesses, is set to be an event to educate, showcase and remember for children and adults alike.
It will take place at Auckland Preparatory School in Auckland Park and will involve its outreach school, Salvazioane. It will cover a wide range of innovation topics, including technology, science, engineering and business in numerous industries and with numerous applications. The school has provided a sneak peek of what to expect, with showcases of innovation in climate control, alternative power provision, environmental sustainability, agriculture and art, to name but a few.
On-site, online and in tune
In tune with the times, the fair is open to all both on-site and online on the 2nd of October 2021, and will feature an impressive lineup of innovation and keynote speakers whose talks will be directed to 8-13 year olds and their parents.
Some of the speakers include IBM’s Yaseera Ismail talking about Quantum Computing for kids and Synthesis Software Technologies’ Luke Machowski talking about Robots of Robots. The school will also have South Africa’s leading COVID experts addressing kids’ questions around the pandemic.
Participating corporates will showcase their groundbreaking innovations, as well as exhibitions to view and innovations in action to play with. The Fair will be complemented by a series demonstrations including the University of Johannesburg robotic dog. Visitors will also be able to fly drones using Virtual Reality (VR) assisted by WITS University students. To top it off, there will be a food and gaming area.
Over and above this, IBM will be offering its virtual Saturday Family Science Webex Series for free starting on the 25th of September and ending on the 30th of October 2021 in honour of the event. Registrations are open to access IBM’s global scientists based at their New York Research Centre. IBM scientists will also be on site to support the two Webex series for the day.
Today, APPS is showcasing how it is leading STEAM Education, particularly at the junior level, with young girls. Today every young girl has the opportunity to be at the forefront of innovation, a century ago, they would have been toward the backend of education.
“We will be fundraising to support the development of an innovation trust which will be used to keep our school at the forefront of innovation, and also to empower our outreach school, Salvazione, to experience the benefits of innovation interventions,” says Howden.
Innovation is said to be the calling card of the future, and with this fair, APPS is inviting everyone along. For more information and booking go to apps.co.za.
